For our Arch, there’s no place like Rome

A LOOK BACK AT THE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY’S MOST FAMOUS LANDMARK FOLLOWING THE PASSING OF ARCHITECT ARATA ISOZAKI

By Ken Robinson

This is the story of how a 1700-yearold Roman arch inspired an architect from Japan to build a landmark at Australia’s first private university on the Gold Coast. The arch is the Arch of Constantine, constructed in 315AD near the Colesseum to commemorate the victory of the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great at the Battle of Milvian Bridge. The architect is Arata Isozaki, who passed away late last year at the age of 91 after standing astride the architecture world and winning the highest honour in his field, the Pritzker Prize.

It was late 1986 when the Bond University Advisory Council selected the winner of a competition to build a mini city on the shores of a manmade lake at Robina with a university at its heart. Leading Australian architect Daryl Jackson was appointed master planner and with input from Queensland architect Robin Gibson, went on to design most of the University’s original buildings including the Law and Business faculties. But in keeping with the global aspirations of the University, an international architect was called in to add a special flourish to the Chancellery and administration building. Due to the influence of University co-founder Harunori Takahashi, the choice was Arata Isozaki, who in the 1980s was emerging as a major figure in world architecture having completed the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles and embarking upon the main stadium for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Mr Isozaki was born in Oita, Kyushu, where his family had lived for 17 generations. The son of a haiku poet - Arata means ‘new’ - he was 14 when atomic bombs flattened Hiroshima and Nagasaki. “My first experience of architecture was the void of architecture, and I began to consider how people might rebuild their homes and cities,” he said. As a young man Mr Isozaki travelled the world - visiting Rome for the first time in the 1960s - and absorbed influences that would reappear throughout his long career.

In 1987, Mr Isozaki presented his vision for the Arch to a meeting of the Buildings and Grounds Committee of the Advisory Council. “Using an attractive model which showed … sketches of the building from various perspectives and detailed plans, Mr Isozaki presented the proposal,” the minutes of the meeting read. “Mr Isozaki explained that the three arches under the linking block were inspired by the Triumphal Arch of Constantine in Rome - a large arch in the centre flanked by two smaller arches. He proposed that the arches have ceilings of polished metal (perhaps aluminium) which would reflect light from the water basin and give a feeling of lightness. In the sloping courtyard between the two adjacent buildings there would be a cascade and fountain symbolising the stream flowing to the ocean. The relationship with water was an essential part of the design.” Among the appreciative members of the committee that recommended approval for the Arch was a pragmatic John Bond, son of co-founder Alan, who noted two lifts would need to be incorporated into the design.

In his projects around the world, Mr Isozaki skilfully incorporated and adapted architectural influences from different cultures. The Arch at Bond University is one such example, symbolising the University’s foundation as a fusion of Eastern and Western principles and cooperation.

Class of 1993 Richard McDougall

Richard McDougall has been appointed Managing Director of systematic fund manager, Hamilton12. Mr McDougall has a 23-year history in the investment sector including a stint as Queensland State Manager for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management where he established its wealth management presence in Queensland. He has also been a Director at Westpac Group and UBS Wealth Management. Mr McDougall holds Bond University Bachelor of Laws and Commerce degrees.

Class of 1995 Julius Brookman

After many successful years as partner and four years consulting, Julius Brookman has taken full-time partnership with boutique London law firm Branch Austin McCormick. Mr Brookman originally studied Communication and International Relations at Bond University before completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Law in London. A highly regarded family law specialist, Mr Brookman is also completing a Master of Arts in Military History at the University of Buckingham.

Class of 2008 Ashleigh Gleeson

Ashleigh Gleeson recently completed the Walkley Foundation Leadership Program. The program aims to equip the next generation of newsroom leaders with skills to hold senior roles. Ms Gleeson, a Bachelor of Journalism and Law graduate, has been Chief of Staff at the Herald Sun since June last year, having served as Deputy Chief of Staff at the Daily Telegraph beforehand. In her decade-long career she has reported on courts, crime, federal politics, council and health.

Class of 2010

Tessa Dann

Tessa Dann has been appointed Head of Sustainable Finance for Australia and New Zealand at Societe Generale. She joined the French-based financial services giant after four years as ANZ’s Director of Sustainable Finance. Previously, Ms Dann worked at Queensland Treasury Corporation and established the Queensland Government as one of the first issuers of Green Bonds in Australia. Ms Dann completed a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Hotel and Resort Management at Bond.

Class of 1999 Ed Wittig

Ed Wittig has been promoted to Partner at Goldman Sachs where he is responsible for Global Industrials Mergers & Acquisitions. He joined Goldman Sachs in 2001 after graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce. Mr Wittig spent time with the firm in Australia before relocating to London in 2007 to head the firm’s European Transportation & Logistics sector. Mr Wittig returned to Sydney to lead the Australia and New Zealand Industrials group in 2011 and moved to New York in 2016, where he is currently based.

Class of 2003 George Raptis

Bond Law graduate George Raptis is CEO and Founder of the world’s first online agency marketplace, Breef. The US-based enterprise counts significant global brands like Heineken, Spotify, Byte and Pantone among a growing list of users, and hosts more than 10,000 agencies, across 25 countries. Breef has just announced the injection of $16 million in new funding which will go towards expanding its global team and opening new bases in the UK and Australia.

Class of 2007 Carley Angel (nee Sear)

Carley Angel (nee Sear) has launched Snack PR, a public relations and media consulting business. Previously Ms Angel worked as Chief of Staff and Executive Producer at Seven News in her hometown of Perth. Snack PR's main focus will be connecting businesses to key stakeholders in the print, radio and television industries. Ms Angel completed a Bachelor of Journalism at Bond University in 2008. She was the 2006 Vynka Hohnen Scholar.

Class of 2011 Nicholas Boyce

Nicholas Boyce has achieved Principal status at Results Legal in just six-anda-half years, around half the usual time. Mr Boyce has been with the firm since completing his practical legal training there. He specialises in commercial litigation - particularly trade credit and insolvency litigation. He also practises in restructuring and security enforcements. Mr Boyce works in all jurisdictions in Australia.

Class of 2012 Leona Adams

Leona Adams has been appointed Principal at Results Legal. She works in the firm's Commercial Litigation and Insolvency team. Ms Adams commenced work with Results Legal after graduating from Bond, and she has risen through the ranks to achieve Principal status in just six-and-a-half years, around half the usual time. Ms Adams acts on behalf of banks and non-bank lenders in all aspects of banking enforcement, strategy, and recovery proceedings.

Class of 2014 Lauren Soars

Lauren Soars has joined AFL club Brisbane Lions as Events Manager. Ms Soars, who graduated with a Bachelor of Business in 2016, has previously worked in events management at USC Stadium and NRL club Newcastle Knights. Ms Soars has spent the last decade working in major sports events domestically and internationally, and is looking forward to using these experiences to continue to grow events and game days at the Brisbane Lions.

Class of 2016 Niamh Sullivan

Niamh Sullivan was named a semifinalist for the Forbes 30 under 30 list (Asia Pacific). Ms Sullivan completed a Bachelor of Communication in 2018. She worked with Channel Seven before starting her own business – INFIX Creative Studio – which helps tech startups establish their brand story and develop the creative framework needed to launch, scale and raise funds. Ms Sullivan, who overcame Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma as a child, is also a National Make-A-Wish Foundation Ambassador.

Class of 2017 Yasmin Schoenbaechler

Yasmin Schoenbaechler has been appointed Programme Delivery Associate at The Carbon Trust. She will be responsible for delivery of the Trust’s carbon footprint verification label. The Trust works with companies to help them measure, manage and reduce their footprint. Now based in London, Ms Schoenbaechler graduated from Bond with a Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Laws before completing a Master of Philosophy in Environmental Policy (Law and Economics) at University of Cambridge.

Class of 2017 Mariam Razkala

Dr Mariam Razkala has been awarded the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service People’s Choice Award at the 2022 Intern Awards. The People’s Choice Award honours an intern who is recognised by their peers for their hard work, dedication and commitment to medicine. Dr Razkala was nominated for her outstanding professionalism and teamwork. Now a second-year doctor, Dr Razkala proudly completed her medical degree at Bond University with distinction.

Class of 2017 Eliza Reilly

Eliza Reilly, a Bachelor of Journalism graduate, has joined CODE Sports as a journalist. Born and raised in Perth, Ms Reilly started her career as a sports cadet at the Gold Coast Bulletin where she later progressed to Deputy Sports Editor. In 2020 she returned home to write for The West Australian. Ms Reilly has won multiple prizes for her journalism, including a Clarion Award and several WA Football Media Guild awards including the Tracey Lewis Emerging Talent Award.

Class of 2019

Jondayah Martin

Jondayah Martin, an Account Manager and Digital Content Creator at Bastion Promedia has recently been announced Best New PR Talent of the Year at the Mumbrella CommsCon Awards. Ms Martin, a Bond University Indigenous Scholarship recipient, completed a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Communication and International Relations in 2020. She managed media for the David Jones Indigenous Fashion Projects runway at Australian Fashion Week this year.

Class of 2021

Max Liversage

Max Liversage has joined KPMG as a Deals Advisor in mid-market valuations and mergers and acquisitions. Mr Liversage graduated from Bond University with a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Accounting and Finance. During his time at Bond he was Treasurer of the Business Students' Association (BSA) and Corporate Relations Director of the Bond University Student Association (BUSA). He is currently studying for his CFA and CA accreditations.